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DERAILMENTS IN INDIA

The results of an 18-month derailment study during 1949-1950 are summarized. Primarily a statistical analysis, the derailments are categorized according to: (1) gauge, (2) type of train or yard, (3) railway, (4) month of occurrence, (5) cause, (6) time of day or night, and (7) whether at a large station. Further, the derailments are analyzed by principal causes (1) track defects, (2) locomotive defects, (3) carriage and wagon defects, (4) faults of traffic staff, (5) faults of power staff, (6) obstructions, and (7) miscellaneous causes. Specific findings for 12,993 derailments during the 18-month period revealed the following: 56 percent were due to traffic staff faults and 8.3 percent to track defects, 7.6 percent resulted from carriage and wagon defects, and another 7.6 percent from obstructions on the track; 6.5 percent were caused by faults of the locomotive staff, and 1.3 percent by locomotive defects. The remaining 12.7 percent are classed as "miscellaneous causes."